A prizewinning portrait of Abraham Lincoln will remain on display in Battle Creek until the fall of 2018.

Battle Creek resident Richard Schlatter's piece, the winner of the ArtPrize 9 Public Vote $200,000 grand prize, was slated to return in September to the Grand Rapids festival. However, the ArtPrize 10 committee negotiatedan agreement with Schlatter to allow the piece to stay in Battle Creek.

Schlatter, a graphic designer and artist of the renowned A. Lincoln 'penny portrait', met with ArtPrize organizers on March 16th where he learned of the decision. "I was relieved...because each time it is moved iscause for concern that it might get damaged," noted Schlatter.

ArtPrize is the largest art festival in the world, according to their website. After taking the festival's top honor in 2017, the 450-pound A. Lincoln was moved by a moving truck to Battle Creek. The portrait iscurrently displayed at the Battle Creek Community Foundation at 32 W. Michigan Ave., where it arrived last October. The piece is 12-feet high by 8-feet wide and does not fit through standard doorways. A window on theexterior of the foundation building was removed to accommodate the large size of the piece as seven art handlers carefully maneuvered it into the gallery.

Since its installation in Battle Creek, over 6000 people have visited A. Lincoln in the gallery, which features photos of the portrait's creation, books on Lincoln, and memorabilia from the president'sassassination. The exhibit is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 3pm through the end of May. Summer and fall hours will be announced at a later date. School classes and other groups can schedule privateshowings with a docent by contacting the Battle Creek Community Foundation.

In lieu of the piece returning to Grand Rapids for ArtPrize, a book about A. Lincoln will be sold at the festival. My ArtPrize Journey: Lots of Faith and Lots of Pennies, is more than a narrative of how Idid it. It is a story of perseverance, of keeping my faith strong against what seemed at times to be insurmountable odds." The book will retail for $10. Schlatter's book will be available for Battle Creek's 'Spring into theArts' festival May 18, 2018 and will be on sale at the Battle Creek Community Foundation gallery. Advanced copies of the book may be reserved, and speaking events featuring artist Richard Schlatter may be arranged byemailing jill@bccfoundation.org .

"The past five months have been gratifying and rewarding in many ways," says Schlatter of his experience. "The role the Battle Creek Community Foundation has taken in creating a venue for displaying . Lincolnspeaks to their commitment to the community. I feel blessed to not only share my story but to bring attention to Battle Creek as the home of the ArtPrize 9 grand prize winner. It truly has been a life-changingexperience."

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
ARTIST WINS AWARD FOR LINCOLN PENNY PORTRAIT (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n43a22.html)
RICHARD SCHLATTER'S 'A. LINCOLN' PORTRAIT (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n46a29.html)